Cidade Maravilhosa
Rio De Janeiro, Brazil
Show StoryStruggling to combat a serious case of jet lag leaves me wide awake in my hotel room throughout the night. The nervous anticipation of wanting to explore plays its cruelest card: time stands still. The only relief from limbo is to listen to the steady rhythm of waves hitting the nearby shore.
After what feels like an eternity, the morning light breaks through and grants me my anticipated access to Rio. It’s my first morning in the pulsating heart of the Cidade Maravilhosa (marvelous city) which is recognized as one of the most striking in the world.
My anticipation is sullied as I realise that my thin grasp of the language of one of the world’s most dangerous cities, could place me in jeopardy.
Rio’s history and bad reputation for gangs is a complex debate tinged with civil factors of racial inequality, poor social economical opportunities, governmental corruption and police brutality.
Leaving the security of the hotel, the first thing that introduces me to this tropical paradise is the smell of the forest. The streets are void of traffic. Desperately searching for a cab, I become more anxious. Day break is upon me and time to shoot, against. Just as I am about to give up, a bright yellow taxi rounds the corner. It breaks suddenly in front of me, rolls down the window and wishes me a cheerful ‘Bom Dia’!
My driver Pedro is a middle aged man with a pot belly stomach. His inquisitive questions and outgoing personality make me laugh as he navigates easily through empty streets. His open nature is typical for Brazilians who tend to have a carefree attitude to life. He breaks from stereotype by blasting classical greats from the radio while driving towards Copacabana; his music setting a whole new vibe for this panorama.
A few moments later, my intended destination appears. ‘Praia do Botafogo‘ in the early morning is a rare thing to experience in Rio. The climbing sun blisters over the horizon. Alone on this deserted beach I allow myself to appreciate the spectacular beauty of this location. A secluded haven, uninterrupted and sheltered from the craziness of the city.
That morning delivered a string of semi-magical events that could not have been choreographed better. As an introduction to Rio de Janeiro, this series of images captures the beauty and heartache associated with a city at odds with itself. A melting pot of heavenly landscapes, poverty and criminality. I took a simple approach by documenting interactions with Brazilians on a personal level.
Show StoryStruggling to combat a serious case of jet lag leaves me wide awake in my hotel room throughout the night. The nervous anticipation of wanting to explore plays its cruelest card: time stands still. The only relief from limbo is to listen to the steady rhythm of waves hitting the nearby shore.
After what feels like an eternity, the morning light breaks through and grants me my anticipated access to Rio. It’s my first morning in the pulsating heart of the Cidade Maravilhosa (marvelous city) which is recognized as one of the most striking in the world.
My anticipation is sullied as I realise that my thin grasp of the language of one of the world’s most dangerous cities, could place me in jeopardy.
Rio’s history and bad reputation for gangs is a complex debate tinged with civil factors of racial inequality, poor social economical opportunities, governmental corruption and police brutality.
Leaving the security of the hotel, the first thing that introduces me to this tropical paradise is the smell of the forest. The streets are void of traffic. Desperately searching for a cab, I become more anxious. Day break is upon me and time to shoot, against. Just as I am about to give up, a bright yellow taxi rounds the corner. It breaks suddenly in front of me, rolls down the window and wishes me a cheerful ‘Bom Dia’!
My driver Pedro is a middle aged man with a pot belly stomach. His inquisitive questions and outgoing personality make me laugh as he navigates easily through empty streets. His open nature is typical for Brazilians who tend to have a carefree attitude to life. He breaks from stereotype by blasting classical greats from the radio while driving towards Copacabana; his music setting a whole new vibe for this panorama.
A few moments later, my intended destination appears. ‘Praia do Botafogo‘ in the early morning is a rare thing to experience in Rio. The climbing sun blisters over the horizon. Alone on this deserted beach I allow myself to appreciate the spectacular beauty of this location. A secluded haven, uninterrupted and sheltered from the craziness of the city.
That morning delivered a string of semi-magical events that could not have been choreographed better. As an introduction to Rio de Janeiro, this series of images captures the beauty and heartache associated with a city at odds with itself. A melting pot of heavenly landscapes, poverty and criminality. I took a simple approach by documenting interactions with Brazilians on a personal level.